Pats: Not so Rosey picture

Thursday

Nov 29, 2007 at 12:01 AMNov 29, 2007 at 11:38 AM

FOXBORO - While the Patriots had placed five players on injured reserve through their first 11 games, by NFL standards they had been pretty fortunate on the injury front this season. Until this week, that is.

Douglas Flynn/Daily News staff

While the Patriots had placed five players on injured reserve through their first 11 games, by NFL standards they had been pretty fortunate on the injury front this season.

Until this week, that is.

On Tuesday, the club was forced to put Rosevelt Colvin on IR, losing the services of the veteran linebacker for the rest of the season with a foot injury suffered Sunday against Philadelphia.

Colvin's absence creates a void in what had been one of the strengths of the club - an experienced linebacking corps with enough depth to keep a five-man rotation, with a combined 58 years in the league, fresh.

Colvin and Mike Vrabel had been adept at creating pressure from the outside, while Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau plugged up the middle and the versatile Adalius Thomas was capable of creating havoc either inside or out.

Now Thomas is likely to spend the bulk of his time outside, putting greater strain on Bruschi, 34, and Seau, 38, in the middle.

"We certainly didn't want to lose Rosie," said coach Bill Belichick, "but that's where we're at so we'll just move on with what we have."

"Chad gives us a level of depth and experience that we're probably fortunate to be able to have at this time of year," said Belichick of Brown, who was released by the team in October after appearing in just one game. "He knows our system, he's been here, he's played here. ... I think everybody has a lot of confidence in Chad, as we should, and our other players.

"We'll use those combinations of people," added Belichick. "It's certainly not the optimum situation, but that's what we have."

The biggest piece to the newly jumbled Colvin-less puzzle will be Thomas. Signed away from Baltimore - where the Pats just happen to next play this Monday night - with a five-year, $35-million deal this offseason, Thomas was expected to be an impact player right away.

He's shown flashes with his rare blend of size (6-2, 270) and speed (4.6 in the 40), but has also been curiously left out of the mix for long stretches, most notably in his limited role against Indianapolis. The Pats won't have the luxury of using him so sparingly now, but Thomas is confident he - and the rest of the club's linebackers - can meet the challenges ahead.

"I think a lot of guys here have done that," said Thomas of moving between positions. "I think they've done a good job here of having different people playing different places, so we have a versatile group here. Not just myself, but all the linebackers here are very versatile. So that gives you a flexibility on defense."

Having Alexander back gives the Pats some needed flexibility as well. He missed four games with a left knee injury, but returned last week against Philadelphia. He's played mostly on special teams this year, but does have some experience in taking on a bigger role. He made his first NFL start at inside linebacker against the Colts in last year's AFC title game and led the Pats with 10 tackles.

"I'm always ready every game," said Alexander. "I was ready for the first game of the season just like I was ready to play in the AFC championship game last year."

Being ready to take on any role has been a hallmark of the Pats defense under Belichick, and that ability will be more important than ever now that Colvin is out of the mix.

"That's what makes our group so special, because if somebody goes down - outside or inside - we have somebody who can step up and replace them," said Alexander.

"We're conditioned all year to be able to step in when called upon, so it's not much more pressure."

But there is pressure, and now there's one less veteran on defense to help bear the burden of that pressure.

Thomas summed it up best when he noted, "You're only as good as your depth."

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